Malaysia is the leading producer of natural rubber in the world. About 46% of the total world's rubber is produced in Malaysia. The rubber plantation was started in Malaysia in 1877. First, the seedlings were brought from the Amazon Basin, and were planted here on a experimental basis. Later, when the rubber seedlings were successfully planted, attempts were made to produce it on a commercial scale. The British people, who colonised the region and introduced rubber tree, provided the capital for clearing the forest and planting rubber trees. They also provided the market for rubber. The skilled labour that was needed was managed from India, particularly from South India.
Conditions favourable for Rubber Growing
# A mean temperature of 27°C, never falling below 22°C.
# Heavy rainfall above 200 cm., with no drought.
# Deep rich soils with good drainage preferably scrumbly, well-oxidized and acidic in reaction
# Adequate supply of labour is an important factor for the collection and plantation of rubber over large holdings
Area of Production
Rubber can grow anywhere in Malaysia, because of the suitability of climate and soil; but most of the rubber estates are concentrated in the western coastal plains of Malaysia. The plantation in coastal zone gets the advantage of nearest port for it's export. Yet very low areas are avoided in order not to suffer from stagnation of water. The greatest production is in its Jahore State of Southern Malaysia. Here Rubber cultivation occupies about 4-2 million acres or about 65% of the total cultivated area in the country.
Problems of the Rubber Industry
At present, the policies of the Malaysian Government are not as favourable to foreign investors as previously. The Government regulations, regarding benefits and wages to native workers, are more strict, and the taxes are higher. The rubber planters also face the problem of surplus production (it is because the huge areas are available for the rubber plantation), which results in lowered prices and profits. The abundant production of synthetic rubber in the U.S.A. and other countries has also given a great set back to marketing. The synthetic rubber, which is made from petroleum, coal, alcohol or other materials, is obtained at a very low cost of production. Another problem is the need to replace a large proportion of the trees, which are very old, with new ones of very high yield. The Government has laid a special tax on exported rubber, and the money, thus, raised is utilized for the cost of replanting trees. Because of all these hazards, the rubber planters are now converting the rubber estates to that of palm. But it does not mean that the rubber plantation system will discontinue. The synthetic rubber is excellent for certain purposes, but it is not yet as satisfactory as natural rubber for general purposes, such as tyres. As such, with an expanded role of the Government in the management of the rubber plantation, the production of rubber in Malaysia will undoubtedly continue, and, perhaps even increase in importance.
Rubber Export
Malaysia produces about 1-5 million tons of natural rubber annually. A major part of it is sent to Singapore or Penang, from where it is exported all over the world. The chief rubber-importing countries are:
(i) Singapore (for re-export),
(ii) Russia and European countries,
(iii) the U.S.A.,
(iv) Japan and
(v) India.
Uses of Rubber
Rubber is used for making innumerable articles ranging from footwear, sports goods, cushions, insulated material for cable, pencil erasers to tyres and tubes.
However, it is its use for making tyres and tubes of automobiles which is of greatest importance. Thus, indirectly, rubber helps in promoting the system of modern transport and communication. Malaysia will continue to play its dominant role in world's rubber production and export.
It was planted in Kuala Kangsar, Perak in 1877
it can be planted from the offspring sprouted from seeds
The rubber tree. It is native to South America, but has been widely planted as a plantation tree in tropical regions around the globe.
They took the rubber tree seeds from the Brazilians and planted them there.
they took the rubber tree seeds from the Brazilians and planted them there
it was planted in 1840
Yes, it can but it will not grow without a suitable climate.
try finding the scientific name of the rubber tree and then search for it on google scholar
In viliamis house
old man tree or aspen
Trees were part of the original plans for the White House grounds. The first tree was planted by an unknown worker, possibly a slave.
Rubber plantations in Malaysia consist of thousand of trees for tapping to extract latex. Rubber trees have a productive life of 25 years. A spiral cute if made in the tree to extract the latex. Trees can be tapped every three days.
An average rubber tree can produce 200 to 400 kilograms of rubber a year. This depends on the age and the size of the rubber tree as well as the location of the tree.